Description
Halloween Witch Hat Calzones are a fun and festive appetizer perfect for Halloween parties or themed dinners. These savory calzones are stuffed with a delicious mixture of cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, Italian sausage, sautéed peppers and onions, and pepperoni, wrapped in crescent roll dough shaped to resemble witch hats. Baked until golden and crisp, they are served warm with marinara sauce for dipping, making a flavorful and visually striking snack for any spooky occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- ½ cup pepperoni, sliced small (plus an additional 8-10 slices cut into fun shapes for decoration)
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup sautéed peppers & onions
- ½ cup cooked Italian sausage
Dough and Seasoning
- 2 packages crescent rolls (8 ounces each)
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
Egg Wash
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon water
To Serve
- Marinara sauce, served warm
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare sausage and vegetables: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Cook the Italian sausage, sautéed peppers, and onions until fully cooked and set aside.
- Prepare pepperoni: Slice ½ cup of pepperoni into small pieces for the filling. Cut 8-10 additional pepperoni slices into decorative shapes such as diamonds, triangles, or crescent moons to adorn the witch hats later and set aside.
- Mix seasoning: In a small bowl, combine the kosher salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning to create a seasoning blend.
- Make the filling: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, cooked sausage, sautéed peppers and onions, small sliced pepperoni, and a generous sprinkle of the seasoning mixture. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Prepare crescent roll dough: Unroll the crescent rolls and separate them into individual triangles. Place four of the triangles onto the prepared baking sheet and keep the other four triangles aside separately. If you have two baking sheets you can do all at once; otherwise, work in batches to prevent dough from becoming too warm and tearing.
- Apply egg wash to dough: Lightly beat the egg and mix with water. Using a brush, apply the egg wash to the edges of the crescent roll triangles on the baking sheet. This will help seal the calzones properly.
- Fill the calzones: Spoon 1½ to 2 tablespoons of the prepared filling onto the center of each crescent triangle on the baking sheet.
- Top and seal: Take the reserved crescent roll triangles and place one on top of each filled triangle. Gently press the edges together to seal the filling inside the dough, ensuring none leaks out while baking.
- Shape the witch hats: Fold up the bottom edge of each calzone to form the brim of the witch’s hat. Shape the pointed tip to resemble the classic witch hat silhouette.
- Finalize egg wash and decoration: Brush the entire shaped witch hats with the egg wash. Place the cut-out pepperoni shapes onto the brim of each hat to decorate. Sprinkle the remaining seasoning mixture evenly over the hats.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the center of the preheated oven and bake at 425°F for 8-10 minutes or until the calzones are golden brown on top and cooked through.
- Finishing touches and serving: Optionally, sprinkle additional grated Parmesan cheese over the hot calzones once out of the oven. Serve warm with marinara sauce heated gently in the microwave in 15-second increments until hot enough for dipping.
Notes
- These calzones make a great appetizer or themed side dish, especially fitting for Halloween parties and events.
- For best results, handle crescent dough carefully to avoid tearing, as it warms quickly.
- Feel free to substitute sausage with another cooked protein or make vegetarian by omitting meat and adding more veggies.
- The decorated pepperoni shapes add a festive and playful touch but can be omitted if preferred.
- Serve immediately for best texture; leftovers can be reheated but the dough will lose some crispiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 witch hat calzone
- Calories: 324 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 701 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 49 mg
